A punch list is the list of remaining minor deficiencies or unfinished items identified near the end of a project that need correcting before final completion.
Owners and contractors walk the finished project together to compile this list.
What Does a Punch List Typically Include?
- Touch-up paint
- Misaligned cabinet doors or hardware
- Missing trim pieces
- Minor cosmetic scratches or dents
Why Is a Punch List Important?
A punch list on a kitchen remodel might note a scratched countertop or a cabinet door that doesn’t close flush, items too minor to have stopped the project but that still need resolving. Contractors typically hold back a portion of final payment, called retainage, until the punch list is cleared.
Punch List vs. Change Order
A punch list addresses minor defects in work that’s already within scope; a change order addresses new or modified scope entirely. Punch list items don’t usually involve additional payment, since they’re corrections to work already contracted for.